Degreaser for tubular items



June 15, 1954 J. L. BOYEN DEGREASER FOR TUBULAR ITEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 13, 1952 lIN V EN TOR.

JOHN L. BOVEN BY @mae/91M H/S ATTORNEYS June 15, 1954 J. L. BoYEN DEGREASER FOR TUBULAR ITEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13,' 1952 INVEN TOR. JOHN L B0 HIS ATTORNEYS Patented June 15, 1954 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,681,308 DEGREASER FOR TUBULAR ITER/IS John L. Boyen, Orinda, Calif., assignor to Currier Company, `a corporation of California Application June 13, 1952, Serial No. 293,326

7 Claims. l

My invention relates to vapor degreasers, and more particularly to a vapordegreaser for cleaning .the interior of open-ended tubular items such as gun barrels, pipe, etc., of grease, or oil or the like.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(i) To provide a novel and improved degreaser iorcleaning oi open-ended tubular items;

A 2) To provide a novel and improved degreaser for vapor degreasing open-ended tubular items without escape of vapor from the tubular item :being cleaned;

(3) To provide a novel and improved degreaser for tubular items, which is capable of being moved from one location to ano-ther;

(4) To provide a novel and improved degreaser for tubular items which is both eiicient and eco nomical in its operation.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of apreferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved degreaser for tubular items;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a three dimensional view of thedegreaser of the preceding figures;

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the electrical system involved in the degreaser of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings for a description of my improved degreaser in its preferred form, the same involves a vapor chamber I, preferably rectangular in form and closed at the top by a cover 3. Along the front wall of the vapor chamber is a storage tank 5 for holding a supply of cleaning solvent, which tank has a pipe connection 'l to the vapor chamber, in which connection is a control valve 9.

Beneath the vapor chamber is a compartment for housing a heater unit H for vaporizing the solvent in the vapor chamber, `such heating unit being preferably of the electrical type involving a plurality of heater elements I3 running transversely of the compartment.

From the front wall of the vapor chamber at an elevation above the storage tank 5, there extends a vapor discharge spout l5 which terminates in an end section Il to which the ltubular itemto be cleaned may be threaded or otherwise connected thereto. This terminating section of Athe spout is preferably flange-bolted to the previous section I9 of the spout to enable disposition of such end section at any one of a plurality of 1nthe vapor tank into may be 4controlled by causing a clinations, whereby to hold the item `to be cleaned at a corresponding elevationalangle.

Vapor developed in the vapor chamber in response to energization of the heating elements, will accordingly rise through the spout and into the tubular item connected thereto. When such vapor reaches the elevated open end of the item, the cleaning process, insofar as the vapor stage is concerned, is complete and the solvent heating unit may be shut down or extinguished.

Extinguishment of the heater unit at this .point in the cleaning operation, may be accomplished in response to the rise in temperature at the open end of the tubular item, occurring when the vapor reaches that point, by disposing at such open end, a thermostat 2| which may lbe electrically connected in the heater circuit in any conventional manner through an electric cable 22, -to 'bring about an opening of the circuit to the heating elements.

By the time .the vapor reaches the open end of the tubular item to be cleaned, considerable heat, however, will have accumulated in the heater elements and surrounding metal structure, and accordingly, the instantaneous shutting ofi' of the heater does not result inthe instantaneous `shutting off of heat to the solvent in the vapor chamber. Vaporizing of the solvent will, consequently, continue for a brief period of time thereafter, with the resul-t that the vapor will -boil out of the open end of the tubular item. inasmuch as the solvent is not only quite expensive, but also somewhat toxic to human beings, its escape into the atmosphere cannot Very well be tolerated.

I have found that such boiling over the vapor reduction in vapor pressure within the vapor chamber itself at the moment the heater unit is extinguished, sufficient to preclude such boiling over the vapor at the elevated end of the tubular item being treated.

One manner of accomplishing this is to pro vide a vapor condenser about the upper end of the vapor chamber. This may take the form of an air duct 23, which is divided `at one end of a pair of branch ducts 25, 2B, with each branch duct extending around one side of the vapor chamber and merging with the other at the opposite or front of the chamber in an open discharge 2l to atmosphere. Air is supplied to the duct 23 by a blower 23 driven by'a motor 29, the blower motor unitbeing mounted on a rear platform 3,0 supported from the tank l.

To maintain stratification of the air through lthe ducts and avoid turbulence, and at the same s time to eiiect the maximum withdrawal of heat from the vapor, a plurality of horizontal fins 32 extend transversely of the ducts from the tank wall, to which they are attached, as by welding.

Aiiixed about the inner wall oi the vapor chamber, at the elevation of the air ducts, are a plurality of drip flanges 3l, 39, fil. These are mounted one above the other, with each overhanging those below it, and serve as condensing elements from which the condensed vapor will drop into a wall trough e2 supported below. The condensate thus deposited in this trough, is led back to the storage tank by a pipe connection 43 interconnecting the trough with said tank.

A pair of spaced-apart channel frames M and 45, welded to the branch duct 26, provide a solid support to which the cover 3 may be hinged.

Said cover may comprise a reinforced plate It?, to the upper surface ci which are affixed a plurality of hold-down channels 49, 58, 5l which overhang the periphery of the cover and are notched to receive hold-down bolts 53 that are hingedly secured to the upper surfaces of the air ducts.

Adjacent the solvent storage tank is a slush tank 55 into which is immersed a motor-driven pump 5?. This pump is preferably of the impeller type, with the motor 59 mounted on the cover of the tank. A pipe ti leading from the discharge of the impeller pump, terminates above the cover in a threaded end for connection thereto of a hose 63, to the other end of which is connected a slushing nozzle or wand E5. Such slushing wand is conventionally employed following the vapor cleaning stage, and serves to flush from the interior of the item to be cleaned, such particles as were immune to the solvent action oi the vapor.

Both the fan motor 29 and pump motor 5S! are each operated through an associated starter Gl, BQ respectively, connected directly to an electrical power supply, while the heating elements of the heater unit are connected to said same power source through the contacts of a contacter "H which is under control of a thermostat circuit 12.

Such thermostat circuit includes the thermostat 2l and a heater unit thermostat 'i3 connected in series with a solenoid or control coil 'i5 of the contactor, and derives power from the secondary 'l1 of a step-down transformer 'i9 which in turn is connected to the power supply source. A switch 86 in the thermostat circuit permits of opening or closing the circuit when desired.

It will be apparent that with both thermostats closed, the contacter will be energized and the circuit to the heating elements closed. When either thermostat opens in response to a predetermined rise in temperature, the heater unit circuit will open to extinguish the heater elements.

A pilot light 8l connected across the solenoid will, when illuminated, serve to indicate a closed heater unit circuit.

All the necessary electrical controls and operating equipment may be mounted on one side of the apparatus, as indicated in the drawing, where they may be readily accessible for inspection and repair or servicing when necessary.

The entire degreaser assembly described above may be conveniently made portable by mounting the same on rear casters 83 and iront casters 85, and mounting a carriage handle Si on the rear platform. Preferably, the front casters are xed, while the rear ones are of the swivel type. From the above description oimy invention in its preferred form, it will be apparent that the same Vfulfills all the objects attributable thereto, and while I have described my invention in its preferred form, the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved, and I, accordingly, do not desire to be limited in my protection to such details as I have illustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a degreaser for open-ended tubular items, such as gun barrels, pipe and the like, a vapor chamber for solvent to be vaporized, means for supporting such a tubular item at an inclination and in communication at one end with said vapor chamber, heating means disposed adjacent said vapor chamber for vaporizing said solvent when said heating means is energized, means responsive to vapor rising in such tubular item to the elevated end thereoi for shutting down said heating means, and means precluding escape of vapor from the elevated open end of said item due to residual heat existing, ioilowing such shut down.

2. In a degreaser for open-ended tubular items, such as gun barrels, pipe and the like, a vapor chamber for solvent to be vaporized, a vapor discharged spout leading from said chamber at at an inclination and having means for connection thereto of such tubular item, electrical heating means disposed adjacent said vapor chamber for vaporizing said solvent when said heating means is energized, means responsive to vapor rising in such tubular item to the elevated end thereof for shutting down said heating means, and means precluding escape of vapor from the elevated open end of said item due to residual heat existing, following such shut down.

3. In a degreaser for open-ended tubular items, such as gun barrels, pipe and the like, a vapor chamber for solvent to be vaporized, a vapor discharge spout leading from said chamber at an inclination and having means for connection thereto of such tubular item, heating means disposed adjacent said vapor chamber for vaporizing said solvent when said heating means is energized, means responsive to vapor rising in such tubular item to the elevated end thereof .for shutting down said heating means, and means precluding escape of vapor from the elevated open end of said item due to residual heat existing, following such shut down, said means including a vapor condenser mounted in proximity to the walls of said vapor chamber adjacent the upper end thereof.

4.1n a degreaser for open-ended tubular items, such-as gun barrels, pipe and the like, a vapor chamber for solvent to be vaporized, a vapor discharge spout leading from said chamber at an inclination and having means for connection 'thereto of such tubular item, heating means disposed adjacent said vapor chamber for Vaporizing said solvent when said heating means is energized, means responsive to vapor rising in such tubular item to the elevated end thereof for shutting down said heating means, and means precluding escape of vapor from the elevated open end of said item due to residual heat existing, following such shut down, said means including a vapor condenser mounted in proximity ,to the walls of said vapor chamber and means lfor flowing a cooling medium therethrough.

5. In a degreaser for open-ended tubular items,

such as gun barrels, pipe and the like, a vapor chamber for solvent to be vaporized, a vapor discharge spout leading from said chamber and having means for connection thereto of such tubular item, electrical heating means disposed adjacent said vapor chamber for vaporizing said solvent when said heating means is energized, means responsive to vapor passing through such tubular item to the open end thereof for shutting down said heating means, and means precluding escape of vapor from the open end of said item due to residual heat existing, following such shut down, said means including a vapor condenser mounted in proximity to the walls of said vapor chamber adjacent the upper end thereof.

6. In a degreaser for open-ended tubular items, such as gun barrels, pipe and the like, a vapor chamber for solvent to be vaporized, a vapor discharge spout leading from said chamber at an inclination and having means for connection thereto of such tubular item, electrical heating means disposed adjacent said vapor chamber for vaporizing said solvent when said heating means is energized, means responsive to vapor rising in such tubular item to the elevated end thereof for shutting down said heating means, and means precluding escape of vapor from the elevated open end of said item due to residual heat existing, following such shut down, said means including a vapor condenser mounted in proximity to the walls of said vapor chamber adjacent the upper end thereof.

'means disposed adjacent said vapor chamber for vaporizing said solvent when said heating means is energized, means responsive to vapor rising in such tubular item to the elevated end thereof for shutting down said heating means, and means precluding escape of vapor from the elevated open end of said item due to residual heat existing, following such shut down, said means including a vapor condenser mounted in proximity lto the walls of said vapor chamber adjacent the upper end thereof, and means for owing a cooling medium therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A DEGREASER FOR OPEN-ENDED TUBULAR ITEMS, SUCH AS GUN BARRELS, PIPE AND THE LIKE, A VAPOR CHAMBER FOR SOLVENT TO BE VAPORIZED, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SUCH A TUBULAR ITEM AT AN INCLINATION AND IN COMMUNICATION AT ONE END WITH SAID VAPOR CHAMBER, HEATING MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID VAPOR CHAMBER FOR VAPORIZING SAID SOLVENT WHEN SAID HEATING MEANS IS ENERGIZED, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO VAPOR RISING IN SUCH TUBULAR ITEM TO THE ELEVATED END THEREOF FOR SHUTTING DOWN SAID HEATING MEANS, AND MEANS PRECLUDING ESCAPE OF VAPOR FROM THE ELEVATED OPEN END OF SAID ITEM DUE TO RESIDUAL HEAT EXISTING, FOLLOWING SUCH SHUT DOWN. 